LONDON (Reuters) - Italy's economy minister Fabrizio Saccomanni said on Monday he sees no risk of deflation in the euro zone. "I don't think we have a risk of deflation in Europe," Saccomanni said in a speech in London. "Inflation has been low but I think we should stick to the objective of a rate of inflation below but close to 2 pct. " Euro zone inflation unexpectedly dropped to a nearly four-year lows in October, increasing pressure on the...

Position: Economy Minister Incumbent: Pier Carlo Padoan Term: Appointed in February 2014 by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Key Facts: - A former official at the International Monetary Fund, Padoan was chief economist at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development when he was named economy and finance minister. - He is the latest in a series of technocrats to take the economy ministry portfolio, after his two predecessors, Fabrizio...

LONDON (Reuters) - Italy's economy minister Fabrizio Saccomanni called for European institutions to switch to majority voting from unanimity in order to implement economic reforms more efficiently. "In a global economy, the protection of stability, the need... to fight recession at a region level, to fight unemployment, particularly among the young people.... needs to have a more efficient and more integrated approach," Saccomanni said in a speech in...

* OECD chief economist picked by Italy's Renzi * Padoan to be 4th technocrat in a row at economy ministry * Renzi has pledged immediate reforms to labour, tax systems By Steve Scherer ROME, Feb 21 (Reuters) - With Pier Carlo Padoan, an internationally respected economist with no experience in frontline politics, Italy is continuing the recent tradition of having technocrats run the economy ministry. Like his predecessor, Bank of Italy...

Position: Economy Minister Incumbent: Pier Carlo Padoan Term: Appointed in February 2014 by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi Key Facts: - A former official at the International Monetary Fund, Padoan was chief economist at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development when he was named economy and finance minister. - He is the latest in a series of technocrats to take the economy ministry portfolio, after his two predecessors, Fabrizio...

ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister-designate Matteo Renzi named the 16 members of his new coalition government, the first Italian administration to be 50 percent women. The new administration will be sworn in at 10:30 GMT Saturday, and will face confidence votes from Monday to confirm it has the required majority in parliament. The coalition of Renzi's center-left Democratic Party and centrist parties including the New Centre Right led by Angelino Alfano is...

* OECD chief economist picked by Italy's Renzi * Padoan to be 4th technocrat in a row at economy ministry * Renzi has pledged immediate reforms to labour, tax systems By Steve Scherer ROME, Feb 21 (Reuters) - With Pier Carlo Padoan, an internationally respected economist with no experience in frontline politics, Italy is continuing the recent tradition of having technocrats run the economy ministry. Like his predecessor, Bank of Italy...

* New cabinet expected to be in place by weekend * No word on key economy ministry post * Renzi promises ambitious reforms but details sketchy By Massimiliano Di Giorgio ROME, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Italian centre-left leader Matteo Renzi began the delicate task of trying to form a new government on Tuesday, facing questions about how he will fill key ministerial posts and the details of his ambitious reform agenda. Renzi has promised a...

ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister-designate Matteo Renzi named the 16 members of his new coalition government, the first Italian administration to be 50 percent women. The new administration will be sworn in at 10:30 GMT Saturday, and will face confidence votes from Monday to confirm it has the required majority in parliament. The coalition of Renzi's center-left Democratic Party and centrist parties including the New Centre Right led by Angelino Alfano is...

LONDON (Reuters) - Italy's economy minister Fabrizio Saccomanni said on Monday he sees no risk of deflation in the euro zone. "I don't think we have a risk of deflation in Europe," Saccomanni said in a speech in London. "Inflation has been low but I think we should stick to the objective of a rate of inflation below but close to 2 pct. " Euro zone inflation unexpectedly dropped to a nearly four-year lows in October, increasing pressure on the...

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's economy minister said he did not believe additional tax hikes and spending cuts would be necessary in 2013, outlining the new government's plans for addressing a prolonged recession in the euro zone's third-largest economy. Asked whether Italy would need additional correctional budget measures this year, Fabrizio Saccomanni told La7 television in an interview: "I do not believe so". The new coalition government led by Enrico Letta...

LONDON (Reuters) - Italy's economy minister Fabrizio Saccomanni called for European institutions to switch to majority voting from unanimity in order to implement economic reforms more efficiently. "In a global economy, the protection of stability, the need... to fight recession at a region level, to fight unemployment, particularly among the young people.... needs to have a more efficient and more integrated approach," Saccomanni said in a speech in...

* New cabinet expected to be in place by weekend * No word on key economy ministry post * Renzi promises ambitious reforms but details sketchy By Massimiliano Di Giorgio ROME, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Italian centre-left leader Matteo Renzi began the delicate task of trying to form a new government on Tuesday, facing questions about how he will fill key ministerial posts and the details of his ambitious reform agenda. Renzi has promised a...

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's economy minister said he did not believe additional tax hikes and spending cuts would be necessary in 2013, outlining the new government's plans for addressing a prolonged recession in the euro zone's third-largest economy. Asked whether Italy would need additional correctional budget measures this year, Fabrizio Saccomanni told La7 television in an interview: "I do not believe so". The new coalition government led by Enrico Letta...

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Italian banks do not need a European Union bailout to boost their capital base, Economy Minister Fabrizio Saccomanni said on Tuesday. Saccomanni was asked by reporters to comment on a statement by former European Central Bank board member Lorenzo Bini Smaghi, who told Reuters on Monday Rome should ask for international financial aid to reform its lenders and its economy. "Italian banks do no need the ESM (European Stability Mechanism)," Saccomanni said. ...